Historic Richmond Town - The heart of old Dutch Staten Island

Historic Richmond Town - Staten Island - NYC - NY Travel Blog

Staten Island is probably the part of New York that receives the least tourists and visitors. Of course, every self respecting tourist can say that he/she visited the borough, but they usually only visit the Staten Island Saint George Ferry Terminal to immediately sail back to Manhattan.

Historic Richmond is a true historic gem, right in the middle of the agglomeration of Staten Island. The historic streets just flow naturally over into the current life streets.

The history of Richmond dates back from the late 17th to the early 20th centuries. The town was founded and inhabited by the early Dutch settlers. The Dutch stuck around, even when the English took over the region. At that time the kids were schooled in two languages: English and Dutch. This happened in the year-1695 Voorlezer's House. The oldest structure in the town as well as the oldest elementary school in the United States. The site comprises more old structures, like farms, two churches, a tavern, a really cool old shop, and a court house. The latter served until 1919 when the court moved to bigger Saint George. This also meant the end for Richmond. More administrative functions moved to Saint George, leaving poor Richmond behind.

It was fortunately preserved in 1958.

The old Court House

Some structures from Staten Island that were in jeopardy by the sledge hammer were saved too and brought to the site. And now every tourist who dares to move further than the Ferry terminal can visit this beautiful site.

Fans of the TV series Boardwalk Empire my have a déja vu experience while visiting Richmond Town. That makes sense since the series' third season was shot here being the Gyp Rosetti ruled New Jersey town of Tabor Heights.